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Cloud & DevOps
What is Reverse Proxy?
Quick answer
A server that sits in front of web servers and forwards client requests to them, adding security, caching, and load balancing.
Reverse Proxy, explained
When a visitor opens a website, their request may first reach a reverse proxy rather than the application server itself. The proxy decides which back-end server should handle the request, passes it on, and returns the response. Common tools include Nginx, HAProxy, and many cloud and CDN services.
Reverse proxies are used to terminate HTTPS connections, cache frequently requested pages, compress responses, block malicious traffic, and spread load across several servers. For example, a news site might place a reverse proxy in front of its content management system so popular articles are served from cache during traffic spikes, protecting the slower application behind it. A forward proxy is the opposite arrangement, acting on behalf of users who reach out to the internet.
Related terms
Cache
A small, fast storage layer that keeps copies of frequently used data so future requests can be served more quickly.
Content Delivery NetworkA geographically distributed network of servers that delivers web content from locations close to each user to improve speed.
Load BalancerA system that distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers so no single server is overwhelmed.
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